Bowling pin and ball kicker



`Iuly 16, 1963 T. M. Dl STEFANO ETAL 3,097,847

BOWLING PIN AND BALI.. KICKER Filed May 12, 1961 3 Sheets-Shea?l l INVENTORY THOMAS M DSTEFANO BY NICANDRO PISTACGHIO ATTORNEYS 8 Q l 0 7 F m e f o E, V Y w 5, ,f f r O 71] f, y@ n Z IIIIII/VUHIIIIIIHHH IHHHMIIHHHHHIIIIHHJHHHHHHHHHHHMMMMMVNHUUHHHH mu J i I I I I I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVHVTORS' THOMAS M DSTEFANO ATTORNEYS July 16, 1963 T. M. DI STEFANO ETAL BOWLING PIN AND BALL KICKER Filed lay 12, 1961 BY NICANDRO PISTACGHIO T. M. DI STEFANO ErAL A BOWLING PIN AND BALL KICKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 16, 1963 Filed nay 12. 1961 BY NIGANDRO PISTAGCIO ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,097,847 BOWLING PIN AND BALL KICKER Thomas M. Di Stefano, Brook St., and Nicandro Pistacchio, 5 Newton St., both of North Providence, RJ. Filed May 12, 1961, Ser. No. 109,779 8 Claims. (Cl. 273-43) This invention relates to a bowling pin setting machine and more particularly to the kick-off device for disscharging the work such as a ball or bowling pin from the work lifting mechanism.

Heretofore and in bowling pin setting machines which are now in the market, the kick-off device for discharging the work such as the ball or bowling pin from the work lifting mechanism has been quite critical land is of a com plicated construction which readily gets out of order and requires repairs or attention. In some cases the discharge for the ball and the bowling pin is in constant motion regardless of the presence of work to be discharged.

One of the objects of lthis invention is to provide a simplified discharge or kick-off mechanism for discharging the work from the lifting mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kick-oli:` mechanism for the bowling ball which is spring actuated but which will remain inactive until tripped or triggered to action by the engagement with a ball which is being `lifted or conveyed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kick-off device which is independent of any operation of the machine but which is triggered to action upon the presence of a ball being conveyed by the lifting mechanism.

`Another object of the invention is to provide a simple member which is usually stationary but which is triggered to action when the ball is present so that the ball may be discharged by the spring action but independent of any other actuating mechanism on the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reset mechanism so that should a ball be discharged from the machine bythe spring action of the discharging member, it will be reset as a subsequent conveying bar travels along its normal path of movement in the machine.

Another object of the .invention is to provide a discharge arm for the bowling pin which will have an easier action upon the pin and one which will have less wear on the conveying mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a discharge device for the bowling pin which will have an antifriction engagement with the pin as it is pushed from the conveying apparatus.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation looking at the rear of a fragmental upper portion of the conveying or lifting mechanism for the balls and pins; FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. l but illustrating the lower portion of the saine conveying mechanism;

=FIG. 3 is a side View of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 2 but illustrating particularly the ball kickoff mechanism in its retracted position;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the detail showing of the lockparts in a position for discharging the bowling pin from the lifting or conveyor mechanism; and

FIG. l8 is a fragmental elevation in the area of the latch for tripping the ball discharge mechanism.

In proceeding with this invention we have provided a pin discharging arm with anti-friction means for engaging Ithe bowling pin and have provided a resilient means such as `a spring through which the arm is actuated for discharge of the pin thus preventing breakage should any of `the parts j'am. Also we have provided a discharge mechanismfor a bowling ball which remains stationary or inactive until a ball is present in the lifting mechanism or conveyor and the presence of the ball triggers into action a discharge member by the release of a latch which premits a spring to actuate the member, engage the ball and discharge it from the lifting mechanism or conveyor.

With reference to the drawings, it may be here stated that this invention is an improvement upon the mechanism shown in Patent 2,920,891, issued January 12, 1960*J particularly as it relates to the lifting mechanism such as is shown in FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 of this patent.

The lifting mechanism comprises upright frame members 10 and 11 which mount a supporting head 12 at the upper end (-FIG. l) for a `dr-ive for the lifting mechanism. This lifting mechanism comprises shafts 13 and 14 each mounting a pair of sprocket gears 15 and 16 over which there extends sprocket chains 17 and 18 which also extend about other sprocket gears at their lower end (not shown) and then pass upwardly along the working stretches as shown at 19 and 20. On the same shaft 13 as is the sprocket `gear 15 and the same shaft 14 as is the sprocket gear 16, there are duplicate sprocket gears and chains such as ljust described and there extends between parallel operating companion pairs of sprocket chains, such as designated 17 and 18, bars 21 which extend from one chain to the `duplicate chain in the set at the right of FIG. l, and bars 22 in the set at the left of FIG, l. These bars travel Adownwardly on the outer stretches and upwardly on the stretches 19 and 20. The bars 21, 22 pick up the work such as the balls or pins so as to lift the work -for distribution. The shafts 13 and 14 are driven from a drive gear 24 through a sprocket chain 23 which extends about a por-tion of the sprocket gear 25 on shaft 13, gear 26 on shaft 14 and also extends about the sprocket gear 27 which drives the gear 28 upon which there is a roller 29 for swinging an arm 30 about pivot 31 for actuation of a pin kicker mechanism which will be hereinafter described.

Supported by and extending between the upright frame members 10 and 11, there is a cross member 32 which is oifset rearwardly and which has a notch 33 at its lower edge and is provided with spaced sides 34 extending rearwardly (see also FIGS. 6 and 7). A bell crank lever 35 is pivotally mounted by trunions 44 between the sides 34 having an arm 36 extending in the cutout portion 33 upwardly, winch arm is bowed forwardly as at 37. Along this bowed portion there are anti-friction rolls 38, 39 and 40 mounted in spaced relation on fingers 41, 42 and 43 extending therefrom. This arm 36 will swing about the pivot 44 between the bars 21 and 22 as the said bars move upwardly supporting between them a bowling pin. The other arm 45 of this bell crank lever 35 extends generally at right angles to the arm 36 and a coil spring 46 links together the arm 45 and the arm 30 above mentioned so that as the roller 29 swings arm 30' upwardly about its pivot 31, a tension will be exerted on the spring 46 causing the arm 45 to swing upwardly and the arm 36 to swing 'downwardly from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6. 'Ihis motion will cause rollers 38, 39, 40 to engage a bowling pin shown in phantom at 47 between the bars 21 and 22 so as to Vpush Ithe same from the elevating mechanism. A spring 48 retracts the bell crank lever to the position shown in FIG. 6.

At a point below .the pin ejecting mechanism just described, a shaft (FIG. 2) extends between the upnights and 11, this shaft being supported in bearings 5.1 and 52. on the uprights 10 and 11. Upon this shaft there is pivotally mounted a member 53 (see also FIG. 3) while a spring 54 encircling this shaft has a portion 55 bearing on the back surface of this member 53 tending to swing it clockwise about the pivot shaft 50 as seen in FIG. 3. An arcuate segment I56 is provided along an upright portion of the frame and the end 57 of the spring may be moved to any one of a plurality of openings 58 in this segment so as to apply more lor less tension on the spring tending to force the member 53 about its pivot shaft 50. In order to hold this member 53 against the action of this spring, a latch 59 is carried by the member 53 which latch has a notch 60 and `an abutment surface 61 which will engage the edge 62 of a plate 63 which is mounted to extend between the frame uprights 10 and 11 and is offset rearwardly from the uprights to which it is attached. This latch is pivoted on the member 53 by means of ears 64 and pin 65 and is swung counter clockwise as seen in FIG. 3 by -a coil spring 66 extending about the pin 65 and engaging the latch as at 67 to force it upwardly, while the spring is anchored by end `68 to one of the ears 64. This latch extends through the member 53 and has a feeler portion 69 which is in the path of travel of a bowling ball 70 as urged toward the feeler by an adjustable resilient arm 84 (FIG. 8), the arm being adjusted by a means 86 to urge only balls and not pins. Thus when the bowling ball engages this feeler portion 69, the latch is rocked about the pivot 65 dislodging the abutment surface 61 from engagement with the portion `62, so that the spring 54 may swing the member 53 about its pivot 50 to engage the ball and push it or kick it yout of the lifting mechanism. A coil spring 71 encircles the portion of the latch outward of the abutment 61 and is retained by a washer 72 in position. This spring serves as a buffer or damper on the swing action of the member 53 by engaging the plate 63 (see FIG. 5). The action of this member l53 swinging from a point above the ball and engaging the ball below its center tends to lift the ball from the engaging bars Z1, 22 so that there is little or no friction and therefore little wear on the bars as the ball is discharged therefrom.

A reset mechanism is provided for the ball kicker as shown in the lower portion of FIGS. 3 and 5. This reset mechanism comprises -an larm 73 pivoted at its lower end at 74 to a part 32 fixed to the upright frame and carrying fixed arcuate arms 75 with rollers 76 at its end which extends into the path of movement of the ball carrying bar Z1', 22 although clear of the path of the ball. This roller is flanged as at 77 so that as the bar engages it, the bar cannot slip from its end surface axially of the roller to become disengaged therewith. Thus, as the bar engages Ithe roller 76 when in this position shown in FIG. 5, the roller will cause the arm 73 to swing from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. i3, and as this occurs, the connection shown generally at 78 comprising a slot '79 in arm 73 and a pin 80 supported between ears 81 extending rearwardly from the member 53 will swing the member 53 from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 3 and as this occurs the latch 59 will move from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 3. Its abutment surface 61 will engage the abutment surface 62 to hold the arm 53 in retracted position, and this retracted position will remain until another ball engages the feeler portion 69 so `as to trip the latch and cause the arm 53 to again swing to discharge the ball from the lifting mechanism.

From the above it will be seen that we liave provided an apparatus for use in association with the mechanism of a bowling pin setting machine which is simple in construction and positive in operation. The ball kicker mechanism is located at a lower elevation on the elevator and senses the presence of a ball being lifted thereon, giving this ball a positive push by a spring actuated ejecting mechanism. Pins will pass by this ball kicker station since their diameter is less than that of the ball and travel to the pin kicker station which consists of a simple rocking arm that is provided with non-jamming rollers thereon insuring that the pin wiil be firmly ejected. Since there are no timing `adjustments that need be made with these kicker arrangements, positive operation is assured at all times.

We claim:

l. In a bowling pin setting machine a lifting mechanism for balls and pins `comprising opposite upwardly moving lifting bars, said bars cooperating to engage between them balls and pins to be lifted, ya ball kick-off mechanism comprising a member pivoted to swing between said cpposite bars, a spring urging the member to swing `about its pivot into the path of travel of a ball, latch means to hold said member against the action of said spring, and trigger means in the path of movement of a ball only to be engaged thereby to release the latch and permit said member to swing under the action of said spring to move a ball from the lifting mechanism.

2. A bowling pin setting machine as in claim l including reset means engageable by a subsequent lifting bar to restore said pivoted member and latch to initial position.

.3. In a bowling pin setting machine 4as in claim l wherein means are provided to adjust the tension of said spring.

4. In a bowling pin setting machine a lifting mechanism for balls and pins comprising opposite upwardly moving lifting bars, said bars cooperating to engage between them balls and p-ins to be lifted, a ball kick-off mechanism comprising a member pivoted to swing between said opposite bars, a spring urging the member to swing about its pivot into the path of travel of a ball, means to adjust the tension of said spring comprising a sector with Ia plurality `of openings any one of which may selectively receive the end of said spring to adjust its tension, latch means to hold said member against the action tof said spring, and trigger means in the path of movement yof a ball only to be engaged thereby to release the latch and permit said member to swing under the action of said spring to move a ball from the lifting mechanism.

5. In a bowling pin setting machine a lifting mechanism for balls and pins comprising opposite upwardly moving lifting bars, said bars cooperating to engage be- -tween them yballs and pins to be lifted, a ball kick-off mechanism comprising a member pivoted to swing between said opposite bars, a spring urging the member to swing about its pivot into the path of travel of a ball, Latch means to hold said member against the action of said spring, means to pivot said latch on said member, said latch engaging a part xed with reference to said member and extending into the path of movement of the ball to act as a trigger means for release of the latch and permit said member to swing under the action of said spring to move the ball from the lifting mechanism.

6. In a bowling pin setting machine a lifting mechanism for balls and pins comprising opposite upwardly moving lifting bars, said bars cooperating to engage between them balls and pins to be lifted, a ball kick-off mechanism comprising a member pivoted to swing between said opposite bars, a spring urging the member to swing about its pivot into the path of travel of a ball, latch means to hold said member against the action of said spring, trigger means in the path of movement of a ball only to be engaged thereby to release the latch and permit said member to swing under the action of said spring to move a ball from the lifting mechanism, and reset means engageable with the subsequent lifting bar to restore said pivoted member and latch to initial position comprising a pivoted arm with a slot and pin connection to said member and a part in the path of movement of the lifting bar.

7. In a bowling pin setting machine a lifting mechanism for balls and pins comprising opposite upwardly moving lifting bars, said bars cooperating to engage between them the work to be lifted, a kick-off mechanism comprising a bell crank lever pivoted to swing between said opposite bars and having two arms extending from the pivot at an angle to each other, one of said arms engageable with the work to eject it and a spring attached at one end to the other arm and means to actuate the other end of the spring to resiliently urge the lever to swing between said bars for discharging the fwork from the lifting mechanism.

8. vIn a bowling pin setting machine as in claim 7 wherein a second spring is attached to one of said arms to move the lever to retracted position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A BOWLING PIN SETTING MACHINE A LIFTING MECHANISM FOR BALLS AND PINS COMPRISING OPPOSITE UPWARDLY MOVING LIFTING BARS, SAID BARS COOPERATING TO ENGAGE BETWEEN THEM BALLS AND PINS TO BE LIFTED, A BALL KICK-OFF MECHANISM COMPRISING A MEMBER PIVOTED TO SWING BETWEEN SAID OPPOSITE BARS, A SPRING URGING THE MEMBER TO SWING ABOUT ITS PIVOT INTO THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF A BALL, LATCH MEANS TO HOLD SAID MEMBER AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID SPRING, AND TRIGGER MEANS IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF A BALL ONLY TO BE ENGAGED THEREBY TO RELEASE THE LATCH AND PERMIT SAID MEMBER TO SWING UNDER THE ACTION OF SAID SPRING TO MOVE A BALL FROM THE LIFTING MECHANISM. 